Introduction

This upright, pyramidal, evergreen tree has fine-textured, drooping branches armed with sharp-pointed, needle-like, glossy, dark green leaves. The leaves give off a strong odor of turpentine (or tomato plant) when crushed. Florida Torreya can reach a height of 40 feet with a 20-foot spread and has a slow growth rate. It is native to the wooded slopes and ravines along the eastern bank of the Appalachicola River in western Florida and is extremely rare in the wild. More widespread use of this native tree will help save it from extinction.

Figure 1.

Young Torreya taxifolia: Florida Torreya

[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]

General Information

Scientific name: Torreya taxifolia

Pronunciation: TOR-ee-uh tack-sih-FOLE-ee-uh

Common name(s): Florida Torreya, Stinking Yew

Family: Taxaceae

USDA hardiness zones: 8A through 9B (Fig. 2)

Origin: native to North America

Invasive potential: little invasive potential

Uses: specimen

Availability: not native to North America

Figure 2.

Range

[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]

Description

Height: 10 to 20 feet

Spread: 15 to 25 feet

Crown uniformity: irregular

Crown shape: pyramidal

Crown density: moderate

Growth rate: slow

Texture: fine

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: alternate (Fig. 3)

Leaf type: simple

Leaf margin: entire

Leaf shape: linear

Leaf venation: parallel

Leaf type and persistence: needled evergreen, evergreen, fragrant

Leaf blade length: less than 2 inches

Leaf color: green

Fall color: no color change

Fall characteristic: not showy

Flower

Flower color: no flowers

Flower characteristics: no flowers

Fruit

Fruit shape: cone, round

Fruit length: .5 to 1 inch, 1 to 3 inches

Fruit covering: fleshy

Fruit color: purple

Fruit characteristics: does not attract wildlife; not showy; fruit/leaves not a litter problem

Use and Management

Florida Torreya prefers partial shade and well-drained, slightly acid, fertile soil. Plants should be watered faithfully and fertilized once in winter. Encourage use of this plant by placing it in a prominent location in a park, golf course, or other public area.

Propagation is by cuttings. Mature wood cuttings taken in winter root well. Seeds, when available, germinate slowly and sporadically.

Pests

Scales can be found infesting the twigs and foliage.

Diseases

Mushroom root rot and blight will infect some landscape plantings.

Footnotes

1.

This document is ENH-801, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date November 1993. Revised December 2006. Reviewed May 2011. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other UF/IFAS Extension publications, contact your county's UF/IFAS Extension office.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, UF/IFAS Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A & M University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, dean for UF/IFAS Extension.